PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The father of a 7-year-old girl who was fatally shot in Providence last month appeared in court on Thursday.

Nelson Pires, 27, was arraigned on two counts of child endangerment and one count of driving with a suspended license. He was held on $50,000 surety bail and is due back in court in January.

In court, prosecutors said on Aug. 29, Pires was with his two children when he got into an argument with 26-year-old Shaheem Nathaniel at a convenience store.

Pires then allegedly got into his car and followed a vehicle in which Nathaniel and 19-year-old Ahmari Cabrera were passengers, hitting their car at least twice.

Prosecutors said the two cars eventually stopped on Florence Street, where Nathaniel and Cabrera fired shots at Pires’ vehicle. His daughter, Ny’Eil, was shot and died from her injuries four days later .

Nathaniel and Cabrera were arrested the following day on assault and gun charges. After Ny’Eil’s death, both men were charged with first-degree murder. According to the R.I. Attorney General’s office, they are being held without bail and are due back in court Tuesday, Sept. 24.

On Thursday, loved ones and family members of Ny’Eil attended the hearing, wearing custom sweatshirts in her honor.

When asked about the fairness of Pires’ bail, loved one Brittany Tavares said, “Honestly, I’m not commenting on that right now. Either way, we’re not getting Ny’Eil back.”

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